Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Paris Preshow: Seat IBE Sports Coupe Concept No2

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, which opens on 30 September, Seat will present a second iteration of its IBE small sports car concept. The first version of the coupe-ish hatchback with the low bonnet and long roofline was introduced at the Geneva Salon this past March (see here).Since then, the car has gained an interior while its exterior design has been tweaked with a restyled lower fascia and new LED headlamps and tail lights. Furthermore, the car is now finished in a more eye-catching cherry-red color.The super-compact sports coupe concept with the 2+2 seat layout is around 200 mm shorter than the Ibiza measuring just 3,830 mm in length. However, it is also unusually wide at 1,770 mm with a height of just 1,230 mm.The Spanish automaker says the IBE has ample space for two and "plenty of room in the back for the option of a trip for four". The rear seat backs can be folded individually to form a flat surface that is level with the floor of the luggage compartment.The concept is equipped with several gadgets including a wireless application to connect a smart phone to the IBE and conduct an on-line check of the car's systems.The IBE is an all-electric vehicle. The drive motor, which has a maximum output of 75 kW (102 hp) and 200 Nm of torque, is located together with the power electronics at the front of the car, while the lithium-ion battery is positioned in the rear.Seat says that the IBE, which tips the scales at only 1,100 kg or 2,425 pounds, can dash from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.6 seconds and reach 100km/h from standstill in 9.7 seconds. Top speed pegged at 160 km/h or 100 mph, while the battery offers a total driving range of around 130 kilometers (80 miles).